Paper fastener



R. G. BOURBON 2,265,262

PAPER FASTENER Filed June 14, 1940 INVENTOR.

J fwsefl flow/306072; Y W M754 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 a a PAPER FASTENER Russell G. Bourdon, Muskegon, Mich, assignor to The Shaw-Walker Company, Muskegon, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan Application June 14, 1940, Serial No. 340,416

6 Claims. 1(Cl. 24-153) This invention relates to improvements in paper fasteners for use with backs or folders for claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a paper fastener of the kind which is of simple and economical construction and of ready and easy operation and which may be applied to a back or folder without a special punch or punch machine. Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener which is automatically positioned when it is applied to a folder.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a folder provided with one of the improved paper fasteners. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the blank cut and formed to make the fastener.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the steps of applying the fastener to the folder.

-Figure 5 is a perspective view showing another way of applying the fastener to the folder.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modification of the fastener made in two parts, said parts as shown being in disassembled relation.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the part illustrated in Figure 7 as it appears when closed upon itself and looked at from the rear.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the parts illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 as when being applied to a folder.

Figure 10 is a view showing the part illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 in place on the folder and the part illustrated in Figure 6 in position to be engaged with the first named part.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the paper fastener properly applied to the folder and ready for use.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive: The improved fastener comprises a base l5 and oppositely extending prongs l6, l6 disposed at right angles to said base. The base has a short extension II on one side of the aligned prongs l6, and a longer extension l8 on the other side thereof. The short extension H is offset somewhat from the plane of the base to provide a curved shoulder I9 which, as will appear later, is designed to engage a perforation in a folder to which the fastener is to be applied.

filing or enclosing papers in succession and con-. 'sists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended To strengthen the base [5, it is preferably embossed to provide laterally spaced ribs 20 extending along its lateral edges. The boss is continued across the base to provide a bottom rib 2|] adjacent the curved shoulder [9. Beyond the ends of the rib 20 the base is bent at right angles to provide a preferably pointed wing 2|. Said wing is curved about the aligned near edges Iii of the prongs l6.

- The improved fastener is designed to be used with a folder provided with a perforation 22 spaced at the required distance from one edge of the folder. To apply the fastener to such folder,

. it is gripped by the finger and thumb, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and the wing 2| is inserted through the perforation 22, with the ribs 20 facing forward and the wing 2| directed towards the near edge of the folder. The base extension I8 is pushed through said perforation until the edges l6 of the prongs I6 engage the front face of the folder and is then swung forwardly to bring the curved shoulder l9 into engagement with the proximate edge of the perforation. This brings the rear face of the short base extension I! into contact with the front face of the folder, and the base extension l8 against the back of the folder, with the edge of the folder engaged in the angle between the wing 2| and the base extension l8 as shown in Figure 4'. Said wing is then bent down against the front face of the folder as shown in Figure 1. The fastener is then ready for use with papers provided with perforations like the perforation 22 in the usual manner.

Where the perforations in the folder are located differently and are not spaced from one edge of the folder to permit application of fastener as described above, it may be applied as follows: In Figure 5 is shown a folder with a perforation located near 'one corner. In such case the base of the fastener is inserted through the perforation but with the Wing 2| turned away from the near edge of the folder. Then the base extension I8 is swung about the near edges I6 of the prongs [6 against the front face of the folder, with the curved shoulder [9 in engagement with the proximate edge of the perforation. In this movement, by pressure on the back of the base I8, the pointed prong will be caused to cut a slit in the folder; and by reason of the curvature of the prong 2| about the said edges l6 as an axis, the base may be brought against the rear face of the folder without rupturing the slit cut by said wing. The wing 2| is then turned down against the front face of the folder as before.

strap 30 is pushed through the slot 28. theprong member 25 is pushed endwise through the channel thus presented until the prongs'of which it is comprised extend at like distances verged towards the bottom as indicated at21.

In the lower part of said leg is provided an elon- 2. A metal paper fastener adapted to be attached to a folder, comprising an elongated base having oppositely extending prongs disposed at right angles to said base, said base having a short extension on one side of said prongs with a rearwardly ofiset curved shoulder and a longer extension on the other side having a wing ex- ,tendingforwardly at an angle to said base.

having laterally extending prongs disposed at gated slot 28 extending parallel to its lateral edges. The leg portion 26 is of the width of the*- leg portion 26* at the top where it joins, said last named leg, but its edges are. sharply converged shortly below that point, where it is continued as a I i narrow tongue 29. Intermediate the length of said tongue it has a part offset from. the main plane i of the tongue to provide a U-shaped. strap. 30.

Said strap is so located with reference to the slot .28 in the leg26 of the base that when the two parts of the base are brought together, the .U-shaped strap 3i! will project through the slot 28 to present a channel extending forwardly of the face of the leg 26 as shown inFigure 8.

The application of the two-piece fastener to a folder is illustrated in Figures 9, l0 and 11.

The folder is provided as before with a perforation 3! adjacent an edge 32, ,The U-shaped base in form as shown in Figure 8 is slipped upon the folder, with the leg 26* on the front side thereof, and the leg 26 on the back of the folder, and in line with the hole 3 i. The fastener is, pushed towards the perforation 3! until the -,edge 32 is engaged by the head of the U-shaped base 26, as shown in Figure 10, whereupon the Then at either side of said strap. This completes the application of the paper fastener which is now ready foruse in the usual Way.

v I claim as myinvention;

1.-A metal paper fastener adapted to be attached to afolder having a perforation at. a

right angles to said base, said base having a short extension on one side of said prongs with a rearwardlygoffset curved shoulder and a longer -extension on the other side having a wing extending forwardly at right angles to the plane of said base, said wing being curved in an arc faboutithe line' ofv the near edges of said laterally extending prongs as an axis.

4. A metal paper fastener adapted to be attached to a folder having a perforation, comprising an elongated base having oppositely extending prongs disposed at right angles to said base,

said base having a short extension on one side of saidprongs with a rearwardly offset curved shoulder and a longer extension on the other side providing an end wing adapted to be bent back upon said base.

5. A metal paper fastener adapted to be attached to a folder having a perforation, com,

and lock said base legs together and to said folder.

6. A metal paper fastener adapted to be attached to a folder having a perforation, comprising a U-shaped base having a wide slotted leg for engagement with the face of the folder and a narrower leg for engagement with the back of the folder, with the proximate edge of the folder engaged by the top of the U, said narrower leg having a forwardly offset part to provide, when pushed through said perforation and the slot in said wider leg, a strap projecting forwardly of said wider leg, and a metal strip adapted to be engagedunder said strap and lock said base legs together and to said folder, said strip being of ,a length to present prongs extending laterally at eitherside of'said base. 7

RUSSELL G. BOURDON. 

